Optical pickup apparatus

ABSTRACT

An optical pickup apparatus includes an objective lens having a numeric aperture and an incident face. An antireflection coating is formed on the incident face. A collimating lens converts laser light from a laser diode into parallel light, and causes the parallel light to be made incident on the incident face through the antireflection coating. The thickness of the antireflection coating causes a transmittance of laser light that enters the objective lens to be: set at a first predetermined transmittance value, when the numeric aperture is between zero and a first predetermined numeric aperture value; set to correlate linearly with the numeric aperture when the numeric aperture is between the first predetermined numeric aperture value and a second predetermined numeric aperture value; and set at a second predetermined transmittance value, when the numeric aperture is between the second predetermined numeric aperture value and a third predetermined numeric aperture value.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/040,518filed on Feb. 29, 2008, which claims the benefit of priority to JapanesePatent Application No. 2007-52769, filed Mar. 2, 2007, the entirecontents of which are incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an optical pickup apparatus executing areading-out operation of a signal recorded in an optical disc or arecording operation of a signal in the optical disc.

2. Description of the Related Art

An optical disc device capable of a reading-out operation and arecording operation of a signal by applying laser light emitted from anoptical pickup apparatus to a signal recording layer of the optical dischas been in widespread use. While the optical disc devices using opticaldiscs called CD or DVD are widely available, optical discs in whichrecording density is improved, that is, those using Blu-ray standard orHD DVD (High Definition Digital Versatile Disc) standard optical discshave recently been developed.

Infrared light with a wavelength of 780 nm is used as the laser lightfor executing the reading-out operation of a signal recorded in theoptical disc of the CD standard, and red light with a wavelength of 650nm is used as the laser light with which the reading-out operation of asignal recorded of the DVD standard optical disc is executed.

The thickness of a protective layer provided on a top face of the signalrecording layer in the CD standard optical disc is 1.2 mm, and thenumerical aperture of an objective lens used for the reading-outoperation of a signal from this signal recording layer, is specified tobe 0.45. The thickness of the protective layer provided on the top faceof the signal recording layer in the DVD standard optical disc is 0.6 mmand the numerical aperture of the objective lens used for thereading-out operation of a signal from this signal recording layer isspecified to be 0.6.

In contrast to the case of such CD-standard and DVD-standard opticaldiscs, in the Blu-ray standard or HD DVD standard optical discs, a laserlight with a short wavelength, for example, a blue-violet light with awavelength of 405 nm is used as the laser light executing thereading-out operation of a signal recorded therein.

The thickness of the protective layer provided on the top face of thesignal recording layer in the Blu-ray standard optical disc is 0.1 mm,and the numerical aperture of the objective lens used for thereading-out operation of a signal from this signal recording layer isspecified to be 0.85.

For a reproduction operation of a signal recorded on the signalrecording layer provided in the Blu-ray standard optical disc or forrecording a signal on such a signal recording layer, a diameter of alaser spot formed by condensing laser light needs to be reduced. In theobjective lens used for obtaining the laser spot shape with a smalldiameter, not only because the numerical aperture (NA) thereof isincreased but also because the focal length thereof becomes shorter, aradius of curvature of the objective lens becomes smaller.

In the optical pickup apparatus, a laser diode is used as an element forgenerating and radiating the laser light, but intensity of the laserlight to be emitted from the laser diode is not constant but hasproperties called Gaussian distribution. The intensity distribution ofsuch a laser light is in an oval shape, which is well-known in the caseof the laser diode.

In the optical pickup apparatus using the objective lens with a smallradius of curvature, since the oval laser light emitted from the laserdiode enters the objective lens, there decreases rim intensity, i.e. theintensity of the laser light passing through the objective lens in aperipheral portion thereof relative to the intensity of the laser lightpassing through the objective lens in the vicinity of an optical axisthereof. As a result, there is not only a problem that the peripheralportion of the laser spot becomes blurred but also a problem thatfocusing intensity decreases.

In such problems, a lens with a small radius of curvature and a largenumerical aperture such as the objective lens as mentioned above causesan incident angle of the laser light to become larger on the peripheralside, i.e. an area of a large numerical aperture side, and therebycauses reflectance of the laser light to become larger. Such propertiesresult in the decrease of the above-mentioned rim intensity.

A method of forming an antireflection coating on the objective lens isproposed as a method for solving such a problem and obtaining a desiredlaser spot (See Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-39161).

In the Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-39161, there is described anart in which an antireflection coating is provided on an objective lensso as to minimize the reflectance in a predetermined area by theantireflection coating. Even with this art, though the rim intensity canbe improved, the optimal characteristics can not be obtained over theentire region of the objective lens.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An optical pickup apparatus according to an aspect of the presentinvention, includes: an objective lens having a numeric aperture, andincluding an incident face; an antireflection coating formed on theincident face of the objective lens, the antireflection coating being asingle layer antireflection coating, or a multi-layer antireflectioncoating comprising a first layer formed on a second layer; and acollimating lens configured to convert laser light emitted from a laserdiode into parallel light, cause the parallel light to be made incidenton the incident face through the antireflection coating of the objectivelens, and be displaced in a direction of an optical path so as tocorrect spherical aberration generated due to a difference in thicknessof a protective layer of an optical disc, wherein, as a result of thethickness of the antireflection coating: a transmittance of laser lightthat enters the objective lens through the incident face is set at afirst predetermined transmittance value, when the numeric aperture ofthe objective lens is between zero and a first predetermined numericaperture value; a transmittance of laser light that enters the objectivelens through the incident face is set to correlate linearly with thenumeric aperture when the numeric aperture of the objective lens isbetween the first predetermined numeric aperture value and a secondpredetermined numeric aperture value; and a transmittance of laser lightthat enters the objective lens through the incident face is set at asecond predetermined transmittance value, when the numeric aperture ofthe objective lens is between the second predetermined numeric aperturevalue and a third predetermined numeric aperture value, or is equal tothe third predetermined numeric aperture value.

Other features of the present invention will become apparent fromdescriptions of this specification and of the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For more thorough understanding of the present invention and advantagesthereof, the following description should be read in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an optical pickup apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged diagram showing a relation between an objectivelens and an optical disc according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a characteristic chart showing a relation between thenumerical aperture and transmittance in an objective lens according toan embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a relation between: transmittancecorresponding to a numerical aperture to be adjusted by anantireflection coating coated on an objective lens; and a diameter of alaser spot formed on a signal recording layer, i.e. a spot size.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

At least the following details will become apparent from descriptions ofthis specification and of the accompanying drawings.

In an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided anobjective lens that: focuses laser light, which has properties ofGaussian distribution, emitted from a laser diode, onto a signalrecording layer provided in an optical disc; and is set at a firstnumerical aperture A (maximum numerical aperture), an antireflectioncoating (coating for adjustment) for adjusting intensity of the laserlight passing through the objective lens is provided on a surface of theobjective lens: and when transmittance corresponding to the numericalaperture between a second numerical aperture B (where B is a positivenumber smaller than A) of the objective lens and the first numericalaperture A thereof is set to 100% by the antireflection coating; sincethere is set the transmittance corresponding to the numerical apertureequal to or smaller than a third numerical aperture C (where C is apositive number smaller than B) to equal to or less than R % (where, Ris a positive number smaller than 100); there is prevented decrease ofthe rim intensity of a laser spot formed by application on the signalrecording layer.

Furthermore, in an embodiment of the present invention, thetransmittance corresponding to the numerical aperture between the secondnumerical aperture B and the third numerical aperture C is set so as tobe linearly changed. The transmittance indicates a transmittance of thelaser light passing through a portion of the objective lens with betweenthe second numerical aperture B and the third numerical aperture C.

Moreover, in an embodiment of the present invention, the antireflectioncoating is formed with a single layer or multi layers.

As the single-layer antireflection coating, a single-layer coatingcontaining magnesium fluorite may be employed, for example. As themulti-layer antireflection coating, a double-layer coating obtained bylaminating a compound coating of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) onsilicon-oxide coating (SiO₂) may be employed. The double-layer coatingis easier to adjust transmittance than the single layer. Moreover, sincean incident face of the objective lens is substantially spherical,incident angles of the laser light to be incident on a center portionand a peripheral portion of the incident face are different with respectto the incident face. Thus, when the double-layer coating is formed onthe surface of the incident face of the objective lens, it is possibleto adjust, with more reliability, the transmittance according to adifference in the incident angle of the laser light with respect to theincident face.

Furthermore, in an embodiment of the present invention, thetransmittance equal to or less than the third numerical aperture C, i.e.the transmittance from a numerical aperture 0, which is an optical axiscenter of the objective lens, to the third numerical aperture C isrendered constant.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an antireflectioncoating that adjusts the intensity of the laser light passing throughthe objective lens is provided on the surface of the objective lens setto the first numerical aperture A, and there is prevented the decreaseof the rim intensity of a laser spot formed by application on the signalrecording layer provided in the optical disc by setting thetransmittance corresponding to the numerical aperture equal to or lessthan the third numerical aperture C (where C is a positive numbersmaller than B) to equal to or less than R % (where R is a positivenumber smaller than 100), when the transmittance between the secondnumerical aperture B of the objective lens (where B is a positive numbersmaller than A) and the first numerical aperture A is set to 100% by theantireflection coating. Therefore, the laser spot suitable for a signalrecording/reproduction operation can be obtained.

Moreover, according to an embodiment of the present invention, since thetransmittance corresponding to the numerical aperture between the secondnumerical aperture B and the third numerical aperture C is set to belinearly changed, a coating operation of the antireflection coating onthe objective lens can be easily performed.

Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the present invention, sincethe antireflection coating is formed with a single layer, a coatingoperation of the antireflection coating on the objective lens can beeasily performed.

Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the present invention, sincethe antireflection coating is formed with multi layers, a reflectioncoating with a desired transmittance can be easily provided on theobjective lens by using coatings with different reflectance.

Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the present invention, sincethe transmittance corresponding to the numerical aperture equal to orless than the third numerical aperture C is set to a constanttransmittance, the laser light emitted from the laser diode can be usedeffectively by setting further the transmittance corresponding to thenumerical aperture equal to or less than the third numerical aperture Cto the required maximum transmittance.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a laser diode emitting laserlight which is blue-violet light with a wavelength of 405 nm, forexample, where the laser light to be emitted has the properties of theGaussian distribution as mentioned above. Reference numeral 2 is adiffraction grating which: the laser light emitted from the laser diode1 enters; and is made up of a diffraction grating portion 2 a forseparating the laser light into the 0th order light, +1st order lightand −1st order light and a ½ wave plate 2 b for converting the incidentlaser light into a linearly polarized light in an S direction.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a polarization beam splitter which: thelaser light having passed through the diffraction grating 2 enters; andprovided with a control coating 3 a for reflecting S-polarized laserlight and having the laser light polarized in a P direction passedtherethrough. Reference numeral 4 denotes a monitor photodetector: whichis provided in a position to be applied with the laser light havingpassed through the polarization beam splitter 3 of the laser lightemitted from the laser diode 1; and of which the detection output isused for controlling output of the laser light to be emitted from thelaser diode 1.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a ¼ wave plate which: is provided in aposition where the laser light reflected on the control coating 3 a ofthe polarization beam splitter 3 enters; and converts the incident laserlight from linearly polarized light into circularly polarized light.Reference numeral 6 denotes a collimating lens which: the laser lighthaving passed through the ¼ wave plate 5 enters; and is provided forconverting the incident laser light into parallel light and forcorrecting spherical aberration caused by a protective layer of theBlu-ray standard optical disc D.

Reference numeral 7 is a reflecting mirror that: the laser light havingbeen converted into the parallel light in the collimating lens 6 enters;reflects the laser light; and is provided so that return light havingbeen reflected from a signal recording layer L of the optical disc D isapplied to, and is reflected in a direction of the polarization beamsplitter 3, as will be later.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a sensor lens which: the return light havingpassed through the control coating 3 a provided in the polarization beamsplitter 3 enters; and has a cylindrical face, a flat face, a concavecurved face, a convex curved face, etc. formed on the side of anincident face and a light-emitting face. Such sensor lens 8 is providedfor generating a focus error signal to be used for a focus controloperation by generating astigmatism in the return light. Referencenumeral 9 denotes a photodetector which: is provided in a position wherethe return light having passed through the sensor lens 8 is condensedand applied; and is made up of a four-split sensor, etc. in whichphotodiodes are arranged.

Reference numeral 10 denotes an objective lens which: the laser lighthaving been reflected on the reflecting mirror 7 enters; focuses theincident laser light onto the signal recording layer L provided in theoptical disc D; and has a small radius of curvature different from aradius of curvature of a spherical surface. On the surface of theincident face side of the objective lens 10, there is provided anantireflection coating 11 for adjusting the intensity of the laser lightpassing through the objective lens 10, however, the details of such anantireflection coating will be described later.

When performing the reproduction operation of a signal recorded in theoptical disc D, a driving current is supplied to the laser diode 1, andlaser light with a wavelength of 405 nm is emitted from the laser diode1. The laser light emitted from the laser diode 1 enters the diffractiongrating 2 where the laser light is separated by the diffraction gratingportion 2 a making up the diffraction grating 2 into the 0th orderlight, +1st order light, and −1st order light and is converted by the ½wave plate 2 b into the linearly polarized light in the S direction. Thelaser light having passed through the diffraction grating 2 enters thepolarization beam splitter 3 and is reflected on the control coating 3 aprovided in the polarization beam splitter 3, while a part of the laserlight is passed therethrough and applied to the monitor photodetector 4.

The laser light reflected on the control coating 3 a enters thecollimating lens 6 through the ¼ wave plate 5, and is converted by afunction of the collimating lens 6 into the parallel light. The laserlight having been converted by the collimating lens 6 to the parallellight is reflected by the reflecting mirror 7, to be made incident onthe objective lens 10. The laser light having been incident on theobjective lens 10 is applied to the signal recording layer L of theoptical disc D as a spot by a focusing operation of the objective lens10. The laser light emitted from the laser diode 1 is applied as adesired spot onto the signal recording layer L of the optical disc D asabove, and the numerical aperture of the objective lens 10 is set so asto become 0.85 in this case.

When performing the above-mentioned focusing operation of the laserlight by the objective lens 10, spherical aberration is generated due toa difference in thickness of the protective layer between the signalrecording layer L and the signal incident face of the optical disc D,however, by displacing the collimating lens 6 shown in an embodiment ofthe present invention in a direction of an optical path, adjustment canbe made so that the spherical aberration is minimized.

An applying operation of the laser light onto the signal recording layerL provided in the optical disc D is performed by the above-mentionedoperation, and when performing such an applying operation, the returnlight having been reflected from the signal recording layer L enters theobjective lens 10 from the side of the optical disc D. The return lighthaving been incident on the objective lens 10 enters the polarizationbeam splitter 3 through the reflecting mirror 7, collimating lens 6, and¼ wave plate 5. Since the return light to be incident on thepolarization beam splitter 3 has been converted into the linearlypolarized light in the P direction, it passes through the controlcoating 3 a provided in the polarization beam splitter 3.

The return light of the laser light having passed through the controlcoating 3 a enters the sensor lens 8, and astigmatism is caused to occurby a function of the sensor lens 8. The return light in which theastigmatism has been caused to occur by the sensor lens 8 is applied toa sensor portion such as a four-split sensor provided in thephotodetector 9 by the light-condensing operation of the sensor lens 8.As a result of the application of the return light to the photodetector9 as above, a generating operation of a focus error signal is performedwith using the change in a spot shape applied to the sensor portionincluded in the photodetector 9. The focus control operation can beperformed by displacing the objective lens 10 in a direction of a signalsurface of the optical disc D with using such a focus error signal.

Though not described in an embodiment of the present invention, aconfiguration is made such that a tracking control operation can beperformed with using the +1st order light and the −1st order lightgenerated by the diffraction grating 2, and a reading-out operation of asignal recorded in the optical disc D is executed by performing such acontrol operation.

The reading-out operation of a signal recorded in the optical disc D iscarried out as mentioned above, however, while the reading-out operationis being performed, a part of the laser light is applied to the monitorphotodetector 4. Therefore, a driving current value to be supplied tothe laser diode 1 can be controlled with using a monitor signal obtainedfrom the monitor photodetector 4.

Since the output of the laser light can be controlled by controlling thedriving current value to be supplied to the laser diode 1, not only thereading-out operation of a signal recorded in the optical disc D butalso an adjustment operation of the laser output to be required whenrecording a signal in an optical disc D1 can be performed.

There is performed the reproduction operation of a signal, etc. in theoptical pickup apparatus with configuration as shown in FIG. 1 asmentioned above, and the antireflection coating 11 in an embodiment ofthe present invention will be described.

The antireflection coating 11 is formed with a single layer containingmagnesium fluoride, for example, on the surface of the incident faceside of the objective lens 10, and the antireflection coating 11 is madeup so as to adjust the intensity of the laser light passing through theobjective lens 10 by adjusting and controlling the reflectance of thelaser light to be reflected. As a result, the intensity of the laserlight passing through the objective lens is made substantially uniformin its entirety.

There is shown in FIG. 4 the relation between: the transmittancecorresponding to the numerical aperture to be adjusted by theantireflection coating 11 to be coated on the objective lens 10; and thediameter of the laser spot to be formed on the signal recording layer L,i.e. a spot size.

In FIG. 4, a theoretical example 1 shows a case where in-pupil intensityof the laser light emitted from the laser diode 1 has an idealdistribution, instead of the Gaussian distribution, i.e. a uniformdistribution, and the transmittance corresponding to all the numericalapertures on the objective lens 10 is 100%, and in such a case, the spotsize is 0.3934 μm. That is, theoretically, a value of this spot sizegives a minimum size, which means that it is impossible to obtain a spotof a size superior to that.

Similarly, a theoretical example 2 shows a case where the in-pupilintensity of the laser light emitted from the laser diode 1 has theGaussian distribution and the transmittance corresponding to all thenumerical apertures on the objective lens 10 is 100%, and in such acase, the spot size is 0.4122 μm. In the case where the in-pupilintensity of the laser light emitted from the laser diode 1 has theGaussian distribution as above, if the transmittance corresponding toall the numerical apertures on the objective lens 10 is 100%, influenceof the Gaussian distribution causes an increase in spot size.

Embodiments 1 to 4 show cases in each of which: the in-pupil intensityof the laser light emitted from the laser diode 1 has the Gaussiandistribution; and the transmittances are made different corresponding tothe numerical apertures by the antireflection coating 11 formed on thesurface of the objective lens 10.

In the Embodiment 1, the transmittance corresponding to the numericalaperture from 0 (fourth numerical aperture), i.e. a center of theoptical axis of the objective lens 10, to 0.3, is set to 55%; thetransmittance corresponding to the numerical aperture from 0.6 to themaximum value that is 0.85, is set to 100%; and the transmittancecorresponding to the numerical aperture from 0.3 to 0.6 is set so as tobe linearly changed. The spot size in such a case is 0.3998 μm.

Next, in the Embodiment 2, the transmittance corresponding to thenumerical aperture from 0 to 0.3 is set to 55%; the transmittancecorresponding to the numerical aperture from 0.7 to the maximum valuethat is 0.85, is set to 100%; and the transmittance corresponding to thenumerical aperture from 0.3 to 0.7 is set so as to be linearly changed.The spot size in such a case is 0.3987 μm.

Moreover, in the Embodiment 3, the transmittance corresponding to thenumerical aperture from 0 to 0.3 is set to 55%; the transmittancecorresponding to the numerical aperture from 0.8 to the maximum valuethat is 0.85, is set to 100%; and the transmittance corresponding to thenumerical aperture from 0.3 to 0.8 is set so as to be linearly changed.The spot size in such a case is 0.3975 μm.

In the Embodiment 4, the transmittance corresponding to the numericalaperture from 0 to 0.3 is set to 55%; the transmittance corresponding tothe maximum numerical aperture that is 0.85, is set to 100%; and thetransmittance corresponding to the numerical aperture from 0.3 to 0.85is set so as to be linearly changed. The spot size in such a case is0.3993 μm.

As mentioned above, the spot size in the Embodiment 3 is the smallest,and there can be obtained the spot of a size close to the theoreticalexample 1. As compared with the case where the transmittancecorresponding to the numerical aperture 0.3 is set to 55%; thetransmittance corresponding to the maximum numerical aperture that is0.85, is set to 100%; and the transmittance therebetween is set so as tobe linearly changed as shown in Embodiment 4, in the case where thetransmittance corresponding to the numerical aperture from 0.8 that issmaller than 0.85, to the maximum value 0.85 is set to 100% as in theEmbodiment 3, a spot of a favorable size can be formed.

FIG. 3 is a characteristic chart showing a relation between a numericalaperture and transmittance in the case of the Embodiment 3, where if thetransmittance corresponding to the numerical aperture from 0.8 to 0.85is set to 100%, the transmittance corresponding to the numericalaperture from 0 to 0.3 is set to 55% (R %) and the transmittancecorresponding to the numerical aperture from 0.3 to 0.8 is set so as tobe linearly changed.

In the case where the maximum numerical aperture of the objective lensis the first numerical aperture A as in the Embodiments described above,when the transmittance corresponding to the numerical aperture betweenthe second numerical aperture B (where, B is a positive number smallerthan A) and the first numerical aperture A is set to 100%, since thetransmittance corresponding to the numerical aperture equal to or lessthan the third numerical aperture C (where, C is a positive numbersmaller than B) is set equal to or less than R %, there can be generateda laser spot suitable for the reading-out operation and recordingoperation of a signal recorded in the signal recording layer L of theoptical disc D, i.e. a laser spot with sufficiently high rim intensity.

It is possible to change the transmittance continuously between thethird numerical aperture C and the numerical aperture 0 on conditionthat the transmittance should be equal to or less than R %, however, thetransmittance is set at a constant value of 55% in embodiments of thepresent invention, which indicates that the setting is made at themaximum transmittance so as not to adversely affect the rim intensity.That is, the setting is made at a transmittance at which the rimintensity is higher than a predetermined value. In such a fashion,output of the laser light emitted from the laser diode 1 can be utilizedat the maximum.

The antireflection coating 11 to be formed on the surface of theobjective lens 10 is made up of a single layer, however, a method of anadjustment of reflectance, that is, a method of an adjustment of thetransmittance of the laser light of the objective lens 10 can be carriedout by changing thickness of the coating at each numerical aperture ormaterial thereof.

And the method can also be carried out by using the antireflectioncoating 11 made up of multi layers, i.e. multi coating, instead of asingle layer.

The above embodiments of the present invention are simply forfacilitating the understanding of the present invention and are not inany way to be construed as limiting the present invention. The presentinvention may variously be changed or altered without departing from itsspirit and encompass equivalents thereof.

1. An optical pickup apparatus comprising: an objective lens having anumeric aperture, and including an incident face; an antireflectioncoating formed on the incident face of the objective lens, theantireflection coating being a single layer antireflection coating, or amulti-layer antireflection coating comprising a first layer formed on asecond layer; and a collimating lens configured to convert laser lightemitted from a laser diode into parallel light, cause the parallel lightto be made incident on the incident face through the antireflectioncoating of the objective lens, and be displaced in a direction of anoptical path so as to correct spherical aberration generated due to adifference in thickness of a protective layer of an optical disc,wherein, as a result of the thickness of the antireflection coating: atransmittance of laser light that enters the objective lens through theincident face is set at a first predetermined transmittance value, whenthe numeric aperture of the objective lens is between zero and a firstpredetermined numeric aperture value; a transmittance of laser lightthat enters the objective lens through the incident face is set tocorrelate linearly with the numeric aperture when the numeric apertureof the objective lens is between the first predetermined numericaperture value and a second predetermined numeric aperture value; and atransmittance of laser light that enters the objective lens through theincident face is set at a second predetermined transmittance value, whenthe numeric aperture of the objective lens is between the secondpredetermined numeric aperture value and a third predetermined numericaperture value, or is equal to the third predetermined numeric aperturevalue.